Is Graham Mertz going to the NFL? Closer look at Florida QB's pro eligibility
Graham Mertz has long been expected to join the NFL in 2025. However, his draft stock took a huge hit when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in a 23-17 loss to Tennessee in mid-October. However, given that he's a senior, the options ahead for the gunslinger are either the NFL or bust.
No one is more aware of this than Mertz. Soon after being ruled out for the year, Mertz said this about the future on ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum's show:
“I mean, obviously, as a competitor, you want to be able to finish the season, but, for me, I mean, this is the circumstances. It’s up to me with how I treat it. I can either be 'Woe is me' or feeling sorry for myself or I can keep continuing to bring joy and happiness every day when I step into the building.
“That’s going to be the approach. We’re going to get this thing fixed up, and we’re going to attack it. It’s a little bit different adversity than I’m used to during the season but just another thing to attack, man.”
What's clear, is that Mertz still wishes to go to the NFL. The question is in what round he will be picked.
In what round will Graham Mertz be picked in the 2025 NFL draft?
Graham Mertz was projected to be selected in the third round of the draft, but his season-ending injury could change the entire calculus around him. Now 247Sports is expecting him to go in late in the fifth round. One of his biggest weaknesses according to scouts is his lack of agility and athleticism, which could be hampered further due to the ACL nature of his injury.
Graham Mertz career stats
Through four seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers and one-and-a-half with the Florida Gators, Graham Mertz passed for 9,099 yards, 64 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He isn't a dual threat quarterback, as his minus-40 career rushing yards demonstrate. His 84 career sacks also show a difficulty to contend with the blitz.
2023 was his best season, having thrown for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. All of those numbers are career bests, although he was sacked 31 times, which was a career high.